Hasta La Gadget!

Microsoft’s Andy Lees quashed dreams of Windows tablets running a Mango-style OS during a talk at the company’s Worldwide Partners Conference today, saying the mobile operating system would conflict with the outfit’s ideas of what makes a slate. According to Electronista, Lees said the computing giant sees tablets as PCs, making the mobile OS incompatible with its vision. He went on to say that Windows 8’s networking and printing functions make it more suited to the needs of tablet users. So, if you’re looking for the sweet style of Mango, it looks like you’ll have get your hands on one of these bad boys.

Andy Lees says no to Mango on Windows tablets originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So much for not keeping pace, huh? We heard back in June of last year that Microsoft had blown through 150 million Windows 7 licenses, and just a few months later, it had surpassed 240 million. At this year’s Worldwide Partner Conference, head honcho Steve Ballmer took great pleasure in announcing that said figure has now swollen to beyond 400 million in under two years. Not surprisingly, that makes Win7 the fastest-selling operating system in history, and Tami Reller — corporate vice president and chief financial officer of Windows and Windows Live — made clear that it’s “the path to Windows 8.” The outfit also announced that 100 million copies of Office 2010 have flown off the shelves since launch, and while no one really came out and said it, we’re counting on seeing a Windows 8 build at the BUILD event this fall. Head on past the break for a whole heaping of (deserved) self-congratulations.

Continue reading Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer says ‘400 million Windows 7 licenses sold’

Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer says ‘400 million Windows 7 licenses sold’ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wistron? Check. HTC? Double-check. Velocity Micro? Been there. Itronix? Done that. Microsoft has found plenty of corporate entities willing to be wooed with its patent-waving ways, and the company hopes the next notch on its bedpost will be a big one: Samsung. Reuters is reporting that Microsoft is after a $15 bounty per Android handset sold, which, if already in place, would have put Sammy $45 million in the hole thanks to the Galaxy S II’s successes. Why would Samsung agree to such terms? It’s possible Microsoft is requiring that this agreement be put in place for companies that want to produce Windows 8 tablets. Or, maybe it’s just because everybody else is playing along. Nobody likes a follower, Samsung, nobody.

Flush with success, Microsoft hopes Samsung will be its next Android patent bounty originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 07:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Considering its adoption of the Windows Phone metro style, its not surprising to hear that Windows 8’s latest leaked build sports a metro-inspired virtual keyboard and traces of code that could bring SMS 3G enabled Windows 8 devices. An App store and feature licensing, however? That’s interesting. Buried in the Windows 8 code, Microsoft enthusiasts have found strings that may hint at a Windows App store, and the ability to activate or deactivate certain OS features through that store. Will this be the end of “Home,” “Pro,” and “Ultimate” editions of Microsoft’s flagship product? We wouldn’t hold our breath. Still, Windows à la Carte doesn’t sound half bad. Hit up the source link to see the code (and speculation) for yourself.

Continue reading New Windows 8 leak hints at SMS support, feature licensing, geo-location

New Windows 8 leak hints at SMS support, feature licensing, geo-location originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 02:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft asked us to drop by at E3 to chat up a generically identified “Xbox executive,” imagine our surprise when we found Kudo Tsunoda hiding behind door number six. Wearing his signature shades, Kudo gave us a brief primer on what makes Kinect great, or at least a heavy endorsement of Kinect Fun Labs. While we can certainly dig the bit-sized gadgetry Fun Labs has to offer, we like to dig deeper — will the Kinect hardware ever be integrated into other devices? Any plans for Microsoft’s 3D tracking camera and Windows 8? Kudo did his best to feed our ravenous appetite for answers.

It wasn’t easy on poor Kudo, of course — more than once we saw him glance longingly at his wrangler, a friendly PR rep keeping him from spilling the beans on anything too awesome. Probing about Windows 8 and Kinect produced one such look, and while our man very lightly suggested that Microsoft does more than games — and that the dual-camera device might start showing up on other devices — the big M had nothing to announce at that time. Kudo did go on to say, however, that we can expect to see new, innovative, “oh my gosh, I can’t believe Kinect can do that” experiences at E3 year after year, citing this year’s keynote for some recent examples. While we couldn’t coax any leaks about Xbox or Kinect successors out of the man, it’s good to see Microsoft’s continued dedication to improving the platform.

Kudo Tsunoda doesn’t tell us a thing about Windows 8 support for Kinect originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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